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Shopping and money in Basque

94 words in Basque on the topic “shopping and money”: zenbat balio du? — how much is it?, euroa — euro, denda — shop, azoka — market. 94 words can be played from recordings.

Updated September 1, 2026 · Lingofly

94 words on the topic

  • zenbat balio du?
    how much is it?
    Literally 'how much does it value?'. For several things the verb agrees with the goods: zenbat balio dute?
  • euroa
    euro
    Euro + the article. After a number the article vanishes: bi euro — two euros, not euroak
  • denda
    shop
    An old word of Romance origin, a relative of Spanish tienda. Denda txiki — a little shop: the Basque Country is fond of those
  • azoka
    market
    A market or fair. «Merkatua» means the same, and both are in use. «Azokara joan» — go to the market
  • salmahaia
    market counter
    A counter at a market stall or a shop. sal- from «saldu», to sell, plus «mahai», table. With the article — «salmahaia»
  • saltzailea
    seller
    From saldu — 'to sell': saltzaile is 'the selling one'. A woman seller is also saltzailea: Basque doesn't mark gender
  • eroslea
    buyer
    From erosi — 'to buy': erosle is 'the buying one'. Buyers together are erosleak
  • pisua
    scale
    Related to Spanish «peso»: the same word also means «weight». «Zenbat pisu?» — how much does it weigh?
  • kiloa
    kilogram
    The short form of kilogramo. Ordered without the article: kilo bat laranja — a kilogram of oranges
  • erdia
    half
    Erdi is both half and middle. Kilo erdi — half a kilo: erdi comes after the measure. Bidearen erdia — the middle of the way
  • freskoa
    fresh
    With the article: fresko+a. Arrain freskoa — fresh fish — is shouted across the market every morning
  • heldua
    ripe
    From heldu — 'to ripen': the same word means 'to reach' and 'adult'. Fruit ripens, a person grows up — one verb for both
  • etiketa
    price tag
    Related to the 'label'. Prezio-etiketa is the full-strength price tag; on the shelf, simply etiketa
  • garestia
    expensive
    Garesti plus -a. «Garestiegia da» — it is too expensive: the ending «-egi» means «too»
  • merkea
    cheap
    Merke plus -a. The pair «garestia/merkea» comes first in any shop. «Merkeago» — cheaper
  • deskontua
    discount
    Related to Spanish «descuento»: deskontu + a. «Ehuneko hamarreko deskontua» — a ten percent discount
  • kanbioa
    change (money)
    It came from Spanish cambio — 'exchange': change here is 'the exchange'. Kanbioa eman dizute? — did they give you the change?
  • eskudirua
    cash
    Literally «money in hand»: esku + diru. «Eskudirutan ordaindu» — to pay in cash
  • banku-txartela
    bank card
    Literally 'bank-card': banku + txartel. Txartela alone is both a ticket and a card: context splits them
  • tiketa
    receipt
    A borrowing, like the English 'ticket'. The same word is the little ticket at a concert
  • Zenbat da?
    how much do I owe?
    Literally 'how much is it?'. A relative of Zenbat balio du? — both ask the price
  • Garestia da.
    it's expensive
    Assembled from garestia and da — 'is'. To boost it: garestiegia da — too expensive
  • Merkeago?
    cheaper?
    Merkeago — 'cheaper': the comparative suffix -ago does all the work. Haggling at a Basque market is normal
  • Erosten dut.
    I'll take it
    From erosi — 'to buy': erosten dut — 'I buy it', through the auxiliary verb. The phrase of decision at the counter
  • Ez dut behar.
    I don't need it
    Literally 'I don't have need': behar — 'need', dut — 'I have'. A polite, short refusal
  • Beste bat, mesedez.
    another one
    Literally 'other one': beste — 'other', bat — 'one'. At the market they say it pointing at the crate
  • nahikoa
    enough
    A word-gesture: Nahikoa! — 'enough!'. The second sense is 'quite': nahikoa ona da — quite good
  • guztira
    in total
    From guzti — 'all': 'all together' is exactly 'in total'. The cashier ends with it: Hiru euro guztira
  • supermerkatua
    supermarket
    A borrowing, as elsewhere. The small shop around the corner is denda txikia — the Basque Country is fond of those
  • saskia
    basket
    The woven market basket and the supermarket basket are one word. Basket-weaving is saskigintza, an old craft
  • ilara
    queue
    The same word means 'row' and 'line'. Ilaran egon — to stand in line, literally 'to be in the row'
  • kutxa
    till
    Same word as 'box': a till is a box too, only for money. «Kutxan ordaindu» — pay at the till
  • poltsa
    bag
    Both a handbag and a plastic bag: poltsa plastikoa. They ask: Poltsarik nahi? — 'want a bag?'
  • irekita
    open
    The form 'being open': the door 'finds itself open'. The signs on the door, Irekita / Itxita, are worth learning before anything else
  • itxita
    closed
    From «itxi», to close: «itxita» — closed, «irekita» — open. Both signs hang on shop doors
  • aukeratu
    choose
    «Aukera» is a choice, «aukeratu» is to choose: the verb is made from the noun with -tu. «Aukera ona» — a good choice
  • neurria
    size
    From neurtu — 'to measure'. On a clothes label the size is neurria; on shoes, the same
  • gehiago
    more
    Partner of gutxiago. Gehiago nahi dut — I want more: an adverb on its own, no comparing verb needed
  • gutxiago
    less
    From gutxi — 'little'. Gatz gutxiago, mesedez — less salt, they say through the market glass
  • pisutsua
    heavy
    From pisu — 'weight': weighty. The same word gives a 'weighty argument'
  • arina
    lightweight
    Partner of pisutsua. The same word about food: afari arina — a light dinner
  • berria
    new
    With the article. Berriro — 'again', literally 'newly': one family
  • zaharra
    old
    sa-ha-rra with a trill. About a person they say zaharra too — politer is adinekoa, 'of age'
  • apurtuta
    broken
    From apurtu — 'to break': 'glass — broken' is written Beira apurtuta on containers
  • ikusi
    see
    A native word: to see. Perception is 'had': ikusi dut — I saw it. From it, berrikusi — 'to review material': to 'look again'
  • entzun
    hear
    A native word: to hear (and to obey). Partner of ikusi: the eyes see, the ears 'have' — entzun dut. From it, entzungailuak — 'headphones'
  • lo egin
    to sleep
    Literally 'to do sleep': lo — 'sleep' + egin — 'to do'. Sleeping here is 'occupying oneself with sleep': gauean lo egiten dut
  • eraman
    carry
    A native word: to carry and to take somewhere in one. Where to takes -ra: etxera eraman dut — I took it home; to whom takes the to-whom form: amari eraman diot — I took it to Mum
  • jarri
    set (upright)
    The same word as 'put down' — context splits them: setting here is standing a thing in its place. Present: jartzen dut
  • apurtu
    break
    A native word: to break and to tear. Hence apurtuta — 'broken', and kontratua apurtu — 'to tear up the contract'
  • eraiki
    build
    The same word as «erect» — the sense differs: here building with your own hands, a house or a garage. Hence «eraikitzailea» — builder
  • berotu
    to heat up
    The same word as «warm up» — the sense differs: here a source gives off heat. A heater is «berogailua»
  • asko
    many
    A native word: many. It follows the noun: jende asko — many people. Partner of gutxi — 'few'. Related: askotan — 'often'
  • gutxi
    few
    A native word: few, little. Partner of asko — 'many'. Hence gutxiago — 'less' and gutxitan — 'rarely'
  • hau
    this
    The near demonstrative: what's in my hands. A row of steps: hau — this, hori — that (by you), hura — that (over there). Alone it also means 'this one'
  • hori
    that
    The middle demonstrative: what's by the person you talk to or in view. Partner of hau — 'this'; the far one is hura, 'he' and 'that'
  • halakoa
    that kind
    From hala — 'so': such here is 'of that kind'. Partner of horrelakoa — 'like this one': halakoa looks to the far model
  • bestea
    the other
    From beste — 'other' + the article. Hence beste bat — 'another one' and beste aldean — 'on the other side'
  • zeintzuk
    which ones
    The plural of zein — 'which': which exactly out of several. Zeintzuk nahi dituzu? — which ones do you want? The singular is zein
  • inolakoa
    none whatsoever
    Literally 'of no kind'. Lives with a negation: inolako arazorik ez dago — there is no problem whatsoever
  • norbait
    somebody
    The same word as «anyone» — the sense differs: here a specific but unknown person. From «nor», who, plus -bait
  • zeozer
    something (unnamed)
    The same word as «anything» — the sense differs: here something talked about without naming it. A colloquial form of «zerbait»
  • inork ez
    nobody
    Literally 'by-anyone not': inor — 'anyone' + -k, the doer's tail. Inork ez du erantzuten — nobody answers: the verb stays singular
  • ezer ez
    nothing
    Literally 'anything not': ezer — 'anything'. Ezer ez da gertatu — nothing happened. Partner of inork ez — 'nobody'
  • galdu
    to lose
    The same word as 'lose a game' — context splits them: losing here is a thing lost. As in pasaportea galdu — 'to lose the passport'
  • berriz aurkitu
    find again
    Literally 'to find anew': berriz — 'anew' + aurkitu — 'to find'. Lost and found — galdu eta berriz aurkitu
  • utzi
    leave (behind)
    A native word: to leave, abandon. Telefonoa etxean utzi dut — I left the phone at home. From it, utzi — 'to quit doing'
  • hartu
    pick up
    The same word as «take» — the sense differs: here picking up what is yours. «Paketea hartzera noa» — I am going for the parcel
  • bueltatu
    return (an item)
    A loan from Spanish volver (buelta), openly admitted. Returning here is handing a thing back: liburua bueltatuko dut — I'll return the book. Conversational
  • ozenki zenbatu
    count aloud
    Literally «count aloud»: ozenki, aloud, from «ozen» — loud, plus zenbatu, to count. Children count their steps aloud
  • apuntatu
    write down
    A loan from Spanish apuntar, openly admitted. Writing down here is into a notebook, on a scrap: helbidea apuntatuko dut — I'll note the address
  • sinatu
    to sign
    To sign; hence «sinadura» — a signature. A document without one is not a paper: «hemen sinatu, mesedez»
  • marratu
    cross out
    From marra — 'stroke, line': crossing out is 'striking with a line'. Made a mistake in a list — don't tear the page: cross it out and write beside it
  • zuzendu
    correct
    The same word as 'fix' and 'direct' — context splits them: correcting here is fixing a mistake. From zuzen — 'straight'
  • puskatxoa
    small piece
    The diminutive of puska — 'a broken-off bit'. A small piece here is a little-baby piece: ogi puskatxo bat — a small piece of bread
  • xerra
    slice
    A native word: ham, bread and cheese are cut xerratan — 'into slices'. Don't mix it with zerra — 'saw': one letter, two worlds
  • laranja zatia
    orange segment
    Literally 'orange's piece': zatia — 'piece'. A segment here is about fruit: oranges and mandarins come apart zatitan
  • pitina
    pinch
    A pinch — what you take between two fingers: pitin is a tiny bit. A pinch of salt is «gatz pitin bat», a little salt «gatz pixka bat»
  • esku bete
    handful
    Literally 'hand full': esku — 'hand' + bete — 'full'. At the market they measure just so: mahats esku bete — a handful of grapes
  • hurrupa
    gulp
    A native word: hurrupa — a gulp, as much as you drink at once. Ur hurrupa bat — a gulp of water — kills thirst on the road
  • sorta
    bunch (of herbs)
    A native word: sorta — a bunch, a bouquet: herbs and flowers at the market are tied in sortak. Perrexil sorta bat — a bunch of parsley
  • kilo erdi
    half a kilo
    Literally 'kilo half': erdi goes after the measure, as in litro erdi and ordu erdi. After a measure the article drops: kilo erdi tomate — half a kilo of tomatoes
  • litro erdi
    half a liter
    Literally 'liter in halves': litro — a borrowing that grew into a measure. Milk and oil often come in litro erdi bottles
  • nahikoa da
    that's enough
    Literally 'there is enough': nahikoa — 'enough' + da. Nahikoa da, eskerrik asko — enough, thanks: while the seller keeps piling it on
  • Zenbat balio du kilo batek?
    how much per kilo?
    Literally 'how much does one kilogram have?': zenbat balio du — the price question. The kilo stands as the doer: kilo batek — 'the kilo itself' carries the price
  • Deskonturik al dago?
    is there a discount?
    Literally 'is there discount?': -rik — the partial, al — the question spark. The discount takes a part away: deskontua
  • Al daukazue...?
    do you have...?
    Polite 'have', to a you-many: daukazue — you have. The particle al makes the question: Al daukazue ogi freskoa?
  • Hau hartuko dut
    I'll take this one
    Literally 'this I will take': hartu — 'take' + the future -ko. The decision at the counter: a finger on the goods — hau hartuko dut
  • Poltsa bat behar dut
    I need a bag
    Literally 'one bag I need': behar dut — 'I need'. Plastic costs money now, so they ask in advance
  • Non dago kutxa?
    where is the till?
    Literally 'where is the till?': non dago — 'where is it'. Kutxa is both the till and a box: the place tells them apart
  • Hori da guztia
    that's all
    Literally 'that is everything': guztia — 'all, the whole'. When the counter runs out — hori da guztia: the goods are listed and the talk is closed
  • Eskudirutan ala txartelaz?
    cash or card?
    Literally 'in cash or by card?': eskudirutan — 'in cash' (eskudiru — 'cash'), txartelaz — 'by card', the instrumental -z. Ala is the 'or' of questions
  • Kanbiorik ez
    keep the change
    Literally 'no change': -rik — the partial + ez. You leave the coins with the seller and say kanbiorik ez, eskerrik asko
  • erosketen zerrenda
    shopping list
    Literally 'of-purchases list': erosketak — 'purchases' + zerrenda — 'a list of lines'. Without it, people get lost in the supermarket

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How it sounds in a sentence

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What is worth knowing about these words

zenbat balio du? — how much is it? Literally 'how much does it value?'. For several things the verb agrees with the goods: zenbat balio dute?

euroa — euro. Euro + the article. After a number the article vanishes: bi euro — two euros, not euroak.

denda — shop. An old word of Romance origin, a relative of Spanish tienda. Denda txiki — a little shop: the Basque Country is fond of those.

azoka — market. A market or fair. «Merkatua» means the same, and both are in use. «Azokara joan» — go to the market.

Test yourself

First by ear — the way you will meet the word in conversation. Click the speaker and pick the translation.

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Now the other way around: recall the spelling from the meaning. That is harder, and therefore more useful.

  1. How do you say “how much is it?” in Basque?

  2. How do you say “scale” in Basque?

  3. How do you say “cheap” in Basque?

  4. How do you say “it's expensive” in Basque?

  5. How do you say “supermarket” in Basque?

How to learn the set instead of just reading it

How much it costs, whether there is a smaller one, whether cards are accepted. A shop forgives mistakes: miss a word and they will show you the thing with their hands anyway.

A list is read in a minute and forgotten in a day. What works: hide the translation, try to recall, get it wrong — and come back to the same words tomorrow.

Frequently asked

How do you say “how much is it?” in Basque?

«zenbat balio du?» Literally 'how much does it value?'. For several things the verb agrees with the goods: zenbat balio dute? It is one of 94 words in the set “shopping and money” — the rest are in the table above.

How many shopping words do you need to start?

The whole set on this page is 94 words, but there is no need to start with all of it: the words you will need in the next few days are enough. Take them a few at a time — five to seven new ones per session.

Is there audio?

Yes, 94 words on this page can be played — click the speaker next to the word. The sound works on any phone, and nothing needs to be installed.

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